to OP: The ring is nice; very simple with no over the top styling (sans halo, sans micropave). Some girls are into that, so if your future fiancee wants something simple, you did well. In terms of the diamond, it really depends on what your budget was. Hopefully you got a good deal. I wouldn't worry too much on size. If your gf has decently skinny fingers, a 1.5 carat rock will look fine. I'd say the balance of color and clarity are more important than anything else (which we can't tell from pictures). Also, being a generic design, you can find an imitation ring for super cheap (silver and CZ stones) and have your girl wear it without any worry of it being lost or stolen (during vacation, daily wearing, etc). I would also get it appraised (from a legit appraiser with proper credentials, not your local average jewelery store) and get insurance on it (I highly recommend Jewelers Mutual Insurance). Congrats and good luck.

I'm a chick (since apparently we're looking for lady opinions), and with my small hands, 1.6 looks like a great size, I think. It's not minuscule, but it's not in your face, either. Did you discuss the setting and band with her at all, or is it a surprise? If you haven't, this seems like a pretty safe bet. The quality isn't bad, there are some noticeable dark areas in the photography (flaws that don't reflect light), but it doesn't seem like there are any inclusions visible to the naked eye. I'm not a huge fan of the band, but I know that is a very popular style nowadays. The metal edges seem a bit thick to me, but maybe I've just never looked at a pave band so closely before.

Yeah, the pictures are horrible, the only clarity in them is that of your extremely dry skin and hairy fingers, thank you for that, by the way, I happened to be eating lunch at the time and suddenly I feel that I do not need to eat anymore.

This could be a great weight loss plan that you could market to people - just deliver hi res pictures of your hands that they can look at whenever they get hungry. Serious - you'll be the new Dr. Bernstein - clinics all over. And then you can afford something bigger than a measly 1.6 carat center stone.

That aside, why is 1.6 not big enough - to me that sounds plenty. I think part of it might be how its set though - is it because of the pave setting that you needed so many claws around the center stone? With my wife's, I only have 4, one at each corner and I think it actually brings in more light and makes the diamond look bigger. Otherwise, the photos are impossible to tell the clarity of the diamond, they don't photograph well, trust me, I've tried.

Since you haven't releases the specs, I'm going to take a guess - I'm thinking clarity wise its a SI1 to VS2 and the colour is an E or F. You'd have done well not to go past F.

That's a big diamond , but as for the ring style it's a pretty common style. Should get a smaller diamond of best quality and unique design. If you guys are still together 5-10 years down the road you can always upgrade to a bigger diamond.

by the same token a civic will also get you from point A to B, why'd you buy a bimmer? functionally they are the same.

not the same. cars that provide driver engagement offer a very emotionally unique experience. blasting through a track and feeling how a car responds to your inputs is both joyful and rewarding. driving inspires a lot of passion and creates a wonderful driving enthusiast community with countless car meets, gatherings, racing leagues, etc.

what experience does an expensive diamond offer? I will concede that older civics are still pretty fun to drive.

not the same. cars that provide driver engagement offer a very emotionally unique experience. blasting through a track and feeling how a car responds to your inputs is both joyful and rewarding. driving inspires a lot of passion and creates a wonderful driving enthusiast community with countless car meets, gatherings, racing leagues, etc.

what experience does an expensive diamond offer? I will concede that older civics are still pretty fun to drive.

i agree with you
but keep in mind some women don't

whilst some things means more to you and less to them
it's same the other way around.

whilst some things means more to you and less to them
it's same the other way around.

otherwise why do high-end brands even exist?

They exist for people who are obsessed with a "brand". However, a diamond is a diamond. As long as the carat, color, cut, clarity, brilliance, etc all match there is no difference between a Tiffany's diamond or some other diamond. AThere is no reason to pay a premium just to have it come in a tiny blue box. A BMW or Audi might use a more advanced suspension, more high strength steel, better quality materials then a civic so that justifies the price premium.

If my fiancee made a big stink about her ring not being from a name brand I'd be reconsidering if she's someone I'd want to marry because contrary to popular belief, the brand or size of the ring doesn't mean how much you love her. I bought her ring from a friend who owns a jewelry store for well under $10k and she loves it to death. If I spent $20k or more on a ring she'd probably beat me and make me take it back and get something cheaper.